The Problem of Evil

I asked God: why is the world so evil? He replied: my answer to the problem of evil is Christianity. I thought God was telling me Christ’s people represent God on earth. Thus, they bring justice and love in a wicked world. But I saw Christians doing wickedness. I asked God how can they be the answer. They are doing evil. God smiled and said: Now, you have the answer. They are the root cause of all wickedness. If the people called to do good and live holy lives live wicked lives, the world ought to be wicked. Right? I understood what God meant when he said that the answer to the problem of evil is Christianity. 

 

Whether people will consider me a Christian, I don’t know. Still, this is what I sincerely feel. God solved the problem of evil by sending his Holy Spirit to dwell within his followers –the Church. The first-century Church waited for the Lord’s return. They went the extra mile and did works of kindness to help reduce people’s suffering. They fought against injustice and evil tooth and nail. God worked through them so powerfully that even the Roman ruler Constantine became a Christ-follower. The Church now had the power to solve the problem of injustice. They could create a fairer system. Tragically, however, they failed miserably.

 

For long, I have wondered why God allowed (or even purposed) evil of any kind to be conceived, articulated, or practiced. If there was no knowledge or idea of “evil,” the problem of evil would not exist. A popular yet unhelpful answer is evil exists so that we might value the good. I find it unsatisfactory on two accounts: first, it is escapist. It does not try to solve the problem. Second, it is fatalistic and persuades the victims to accept their fate. 

 

Biblical theology offers God’s saving presence with/among his people as a practical solution to the problem of evil. The Bible neither denies the existence of evil nor does it seek to justify its existence. Instead, it offers a realistic story and a pragmatic approach to address it. God’s answer to evil is His holy and saving presence. God first placed his saving and sanctifying presence in the Garden of Eden among the people he created in his image. After humans failed him in Eden, he continued ministering humanity to overcome evil, but from a distance. 

 

Later, he chose a people to follow him –Abraham’s family, Israel. He brought them out of slavery under a wicked regime to show his desire for justice and power to bring forth justice. God placed his presence in their Tabernacle and temple and guided them into the Promised Land. However, like the first humans, Israel also fell into the trap of idolatry and did evil. God’s presence left them, and they went into exile. But God promised that one day he would return to them and bring them out of exile and slavery. 

 

Hundreds of years later, God revisited Israel in the person of King Jesus (Emmanuel –God with us). Jesus acted as if he were the actual temple. He did what the temple was intended to do but could not do because it lacked God’s presence. In his ministry, Jesus did justice by reversing the effects of sin and evil. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and announced God’s Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. In Him, all the fullness of God dwelt in bodily form.

 

Finally, as a representative of sinful humanity and Israel who failed to remain faithful to God, Jesus died. Jesus endured unjust suffering but remained grateful to God. He forgave his ruthless opponents. Jesus loved even those who tortured him to death. He did not bow before the powers of darkness and did not sin even to the point of his death. Jesus allowed them to do their worst on his body but remained faithful to God. Thus, Jesus destroyed the power of wicked forces over humanity through his death. Then, he rose again, announcing his victory over sin and the evil powers. Jesus also inaugurated the new age and new creation in his resurrection body.

 

After this, Jesus sent his presence –the Holy Spirit– to indwell his faithful disciples to guarantee their future resurrection. The Holy Spirit empowered them to live out the new creation life in this evil age. Now, God’s presence dwells in us, the Church, corporately and individually. Therefore, if God’s saving presence is his answer to evil, then the genuine followers of King Jesus are, perhaps, God’s solution to the problem of evil in the present world. 

 

The three-fold weapons of a faithful Christ-follower are fervent prayer, acts of kindness, and genuine humility. Whenever a Christ-follower says “no” to ungodliness, returns good for evil, blesses and prays good things for the evildoers, evil and its father, the devil, lose the battle. Of course, God shields and rewards his children in his way, but whenever they take the extra mile to help others or turn the other cheek to those who hurt them, his heart rejoices in them. For an honest Christian, every challenge is an opportunity to experience Jesus. 

 

In our personal lives, the work of God’s presence in Jesus upon the cross teaches us the following things. First, it teaches us to remain grateful to God during adversity. Second, it helps us to forgive those who hurt us and love those who seem unlovable. Third, it instructs us to endure unjust suffering patiently and realistically. Fourth, it enables us to know how to fight evil with good. Fifth, it guides us to cling to God when it seems God has forsaken us. And finally, it leads us to give room for God’s vengeance upon evildoers and trust God alone for our vindication. 

 

When true believers fight for justice and deliverance for wronged or mistreated people led by the indwelling presence of God, the entire creation joins them in their struggle. The struggle of faithful God’s people against collective evils like slavery, apartheid, racism, and mistreatment of lepers are examples. Why does the creation join God’s people in this fight? Because the cosmos also longs for the final restoration when God, the creator, will set things right. He will then reveal his faithful children and dwell among them in the renewed world, where heaven and earth shall unite and stay together forever. Thus, God will end evil forever.